Printer Shares Lost After Changing Server Name

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 Service Pack 3

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

After you rename a print server, the shared printers no longer appear when You use NET VIEW at the command prompt. You may also receive the following error message when using the NET USE command to connect to the shared printer:

   Error 53: The computer name specified in the network path cannot be
   located.

CAUSE

Windows NT Service Pack 3 began writing the full Universal Naming Convention (UNC) name of the printer in the registry. When you change the name of the server, Windows NT does not update the registry and the printer shares no longer appear.

RESOLUTION

Use one of the following methods to resolve this problem:

Method 1

Update the registry to reflect the new UNC name of the print server.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and select the following subkey:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\LANMANSERVER
         \SHARES
   

         NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for
         readability.
   

2. Double-click any of the printers listed under the Shares key to open the Data dialog box.

3. Update the Path setting to reflect the new UNC name of the server.

4. Close Registry Editor.

Method 2

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Printers folder.

2. Right-click the shared printer and select Sharing.

3. Click Not Shared and then click OK.

4. Right-click the printer again and select Sharing.

5. Click Shared and then click OK.